Reloading clip for revolvers



May 12, 1953 s. MASON 2,637,930

RELOADING CLIP FOR REVOLVERS Filed March 1, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR.

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hum, 9mm, 2% Mama May 12, 1953 s. MASON RELOADING CLIP FOR REVOLVERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 1, 195] INVENTOR. jaurezceifiksan BY iys.

Patented May 12, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

RELOADIN-"G CLIP FGR EEVOEVERS Laurence S1. Mason, Ptescntt Arizr AppiicationMal-chl, 195T, SerfakNo. 21313.07

2.-C.laims. l

The invention relates to new and useful. improvements in a reloading clip for revolvers and more particularly to a clip for holding a. full complement of cartridges arranged therein to conform to the position of the chambers in the cylinder of a revolver.

An object of the invention is to: provide a single unit reloading clip formed of resilient material and having a central portion which is preferably dome shaped and with which is associated means for supporting cartridges in loading position, which clip is so constructed that pressure on the central portion of the unit when loading will simultaneously release the cartridges from the clip.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clip of the above type wherein. the cartridge supporting means include spaced portions projecting radially from the periphery of the central portion and arranged so as to support a 1 full complement of cartridges in loading posittion.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clip of the above type wherein each cartridge supporting portion includes a seat for the cartridge, a wall partially encircling the seat for holding the cartridge from lateral movement; on its seat and ribs carried by said wall and engaging the cartridge beneath the flange thereof for holding the cartridge firmly on the seat.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clip of the above type wherein the wall of each cartridge supporting portion encircles the flange of' the cartridge for more than one-half of its circumference with the ends of the wall spaced sufficiently to" permit the flange at. the cartridge to be snapped between the ends into supporting contact with. the wall; and ribs;

Another object of the invention is to provide a cartridge holding clipaof the above type where;

in thecartridge supporting portions are provided with arcuate depending feet adapted to engage the face of the revolver cylinder when loading for holding the central portion: of the clip spaced from the cylinder so that when pressure is applied. to the central portion of the clip it. will Figure-2 is a toppl'azr view of the'ch'p;

Figure 3* is an underside view of the clip Figure 4- a. sectional view on: the line 4-4 of Figure 2, showing portions of one of the two cartridgesfirmly attached to the clip.

Figure 4 isa view" showing a portion of the revolver cylinder with the loading clip in loading position. and with the central portion of the clip pressed inwardly, the cartridge carrying portions tilted and the cartridges released from the clip;

Figure 5 is asectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 4*;

Figure 6' isan enlarged view of the underside of one of the cartridge supporting portions with the cartridge flange positioned for entrance into the supporting means:

Figure 7 is a view'showing diagrammatically a revolver with the cylinder thrown to oneside for loading; and the clip with the cartridges at.- tached' thereto" positioned for entrance. of the cartridges into the chambers of the cylinder;

Figure 8 is a side view'of a holder for the clip with the cartridges attached thereto, a portion ofthe clipbeing broken away in sections;

Figure 9 is atop plan view of the holder with the clip inserted and locked to theholder with a portion of the clip broken away to show the end of the holder and two of the cartridge receiving pockets: and

Figure 16 is a rear view of the holder showing the locking hail moved to clamping engage?- ment. with the clip.

The invention. has to do" with a reloading clip for revolvers. The clip is a one-piece structure and is preferably made of an elastomeric plastic by injection molding. The clip' includes a body having" a. central portion which is preferably" dome shaed' and a plurality of cartridge supporting portions projecting radially from said central portion and spaced to conform to the spacing of the chambers in the revolver cylinder: Each cartridge supporting portion is provid'ed on its under-face with a cartridge seat of the same overall dimensions as the flanged end of a cartridge. An arcuate wall depends from the periphery of the seat and surrounds the same for more: than one-half of the circumference thereon The ends of the. wall terminate. at the. inner" side of the seat and are spaced so that. the. cartridges will. snap. between said ends onto said seat and. into contact. with. said wall. Carried by each wall are inwardly projecting arcuate ribs so disposed as to engage beneath the. flange on the. cartridge for firmly holding the cartridge in engagement with its seat. The cartridge supporting portions are provided with of a hollow dome which projects outwardly from the body of the clip. The clip isdesignedfor holding six cartridges, one for each chamber of the revolver cylinder. The body portion is provided with six cartridge supporting portions indicated at 3.' These cartridge supporting portions extend radially from the center (of the dome and extending between the cartridge supporting portions is a connecting web 4. These cartridge supporting portions are; spaced from each other to conform to the spacing of the chambers in the revolver cylinder. on the underside of each cartridge supporting portion is a seat which is surrounded by a wall ;6, the inner face I of which is shaped so as to engage and partially encircle the flange of a cartridge contacting with the seat 5. This wall 6 extends around the seat for more than onehalf of; its circumference. The ends of the walls 8, 8 are disposed at the inner side of the seat and are'spaced a distance slightly less than the diameter of the flange 9 of the cartridge 13.

When it is desired to place a cartridge in the clip the flanged end of the cartridge is placed against the; inner portion of the seat as shown in Figure 6. In this positionthe flange 9- is contacting the ends 8, 8. A lateral pressure on the cartridge radially outwardly of the clip will cause the ends-8, 8 of the walLB to yield and move outwardly so that the flanged end of the cartridge will pass between said ends and move onto the seat with the flange of the cartridge in contact with the inner face I of the wall 6. Thus it is that the, wall 6 will firmly retain the cartridge from lateral movement on the seat.

Each cartridge supporting portion has inwardly projecting ribs H formed integrally with the Wall 6. There are ribs disposed substantially at opposite sides of the seat and these ribs are dimensioned so as to engage beneath the flange of the cartridge and firmly hold the cartridge in engagement with the seat. The websd connecting the cartridge supporting portions 3 are substantially in the same plane as these. ribs (see Figure 5). When the webs are thus positioned the ribs H, H will be firmly supported so asto hold the cartridges in proper alignment for entrance into the chambers -*of the revolver.

Depending from the outer peripheral portion of the walls 6 of the cartridge supporting portions are feet l2 which are-curved on their inner face to conform to the curvature of the inner face of the wall 6.

Extending inwardly on'theinner face of the dome are radial ribs IS. The outer ends M of .these'ribs lie in the plane of the seat and form an imierextension thereof which aids in supporting the cartridge in proper position for movement onto the seat. These ribs give rigidity to the cartridge supporting portions and assist 'in holding the cartridges when placed 'on the seat in proper alignment for entrance into the chambers of the revolver cylinder.

After the cartridges have been attached to the clip as shown in Figure 1, they will be firmly supported in cartridge loading position during the handling of the clip. For loading the revolver the cylinder is turned to one side as shown in the type of revolver illustrated in Figure 7 and then the cartridges are inserted in the chambers of the cylinder. In this figure the cartridges are shown as just entering the cartridge chambers. As the cartridges move into the chambers the feet l2 of the cartridge clip will contact with the end face of the cylinder. In Figure 4*- there is shown a portion of the revolver cylinder [5 having cartridge receiving chambers iii. The cylinder is also provided with the usual crow foot l! and a yieldable holding pin [8. The hollow. dome 2 provides ample clearance space for the crow foot.

When the central portion of the dome 2 is pressed upon by the thumb of the operator, or some other portion ofthe hand, it will move inwardly to the position shown in Figure 4 This inward pressure on the dome will force the base 19 of the dome inwardly and inasmuch as the feet rest on the end face of the cylinder, the cartridge supporting portions at the outer edges thereof cannot move inwardly and therefore-the portion of the clip carrying the cartridge will be shifted to the tilted position indicated at 20 in Figure 4 This tilting of the seat and the associated holding ribs will strip the clip from the cartridges. Inasmuch as pressure on the dome will be centralized relative to the clips, all of the cartridge supporting portions of the clip will be tilted simultaneously and the clip released from all of the cartridges.

-While it is preferred to provide the clipwith this dome shaped portion which is to be pressed upon it isunderstood that this central portion of the clip maybe otherwise shaped. The locking pin I8 is yieldingly supported and does not at any time prevent suflicient inward movementofthe central portion for the releasing-of the cartridges.

While the reloading clip has been described in detail as made frcm elastomeric plastic by the usual injection molding method, it will be understood that other materials than plastic may be used provided they have the proper resiliency and elasticity to function in the manner described.

The clip, due to simplicityof its structure and the'low cost of material, can be expended when the cartridges are released.

In Figures 8, 9 and 10, there is shown a belt supported holder for the loaded clip. This holder includes a portion 21 through which a belt 22 may be passed for supporting the holder. The holder includes a casin 23 having a series of cylindrical pockets 24. For the clip described above'there are, of course, six pockets, one for eachcartridge. This casing at the upper portion thereof is cylindrical. It is preferably cut away between the pockets from the cylindrical portion 25 at the upper end to the lower end of the casing tosave material and lighten the holder. The cylindrical portion at the upper end of the casing is provided with arcuaterecesses 26 which are adapted to receive the feet I2 of the clip when the clip with the loaded cartridges is placed in thehold'er. These recesses closely conform to the feet so that dust and dirt cannot enter through the recess. The holder has a dome shaped member 21 formed as a part thereof and this dome shaped portion 21 of the holder ex tends into the dome of the clip when the clip is placed in the holder and this will prevent any inward movement of the dome relative to the cartridge holding portions that would cause the releasing of the cartridges from the clip. It is noted that the casing is so dimensioned that the feet will be completely housed within the recesses formed in the casing, that is, they do not extend radially outward beyond the face of the casing and, therefore, said feet are protected against damage by contact with objects engaging the outer face of the casing.

The clip is held in the holder 'by means of a wire bail 28 as illustrated in the drawing. This bail 2B is pivotally attached to the holder at 29. At its upper end. it is bent inwardly to provide loczing portions 38, 3G and thence upwardly into a connecting cross bar 3i. These locking portions it, (it! engage the outer edge portions of the cartridge supporting portions 3 of the clip.

The pivotal connection of the bail as shown in Figure 7 is close to the belt supporting member and, therefore, as the bail moves into clamping position, the clamping pressure will gradually increase and as a result the clip will be firmly held clamped against the upper end of the casing.

tridge supporting portions adapted to engage the 5 end face of the revolver cylinder for holding the clip spaced therefrom when the cartridges have been placed in the chambers of the revolver so that the central portion can be flexed inwardly sufhciently to tilt the cartridge supporting portions and thus release the clip from the cartridges. The making of the central portion dome shaped is not essential but preferred as it centrolizes the pressure on the clip so that all of the cartridges will be simultaneously released. However, this central portion may be flat and slightly raised to provide suflicient clearance to permit flexing of the central portion for releasing the cartridges or it may be flat and in the plane of the cartridge supporting portion provided the feet are lengthened slightly to give the proper clearance for releasing the cartridges.

I claim:

1. A reloading clip for revolvers comprising a one-piece unit of resilient plastic material having a flexible central portion and individual cartridge supporting portions projecting radially outwardly from the periphery of said central portion, each projecting portion having on its underface a cartridge seat conforming to the flanged end of a cartridge, and a depending wall partially encircling the cartridge seat for retaining the cariridge from lateral movement on the seat, ribs formed integrally with said depending wall and disposed so as to engage beneath the cartridge flange at opposite sides of the cartridge for firmly holding said cartridge in engagement with its seat, said depending walls of the cartridge supporting portions having depending feet adapted to engage the end of the cylinder of the revolver when the cartridges are inserted in their respective chambers for holding the central portion of the clip spaced from the cylinder so that pressure applied to the central portion of the clip will flex said portion inwardly and cause a simultaneous tilting of the cartridge supporting portions outwardly away from the end of the cylinder and a release or the cartridges from the clip.

2. A reloading clip for revolvers comprising a one-piece unit of resilient plastic material having an outwardly domed central portion and individual cartridge supporting portions projecting radially outwardly from the periphery of said central portion, each projecting portion having on its underface a, cartridge seat conforming to the flanged end of a cartridge, and a cartridge retaining wall encircling said seat for more than one-half the circumference thereof with the ends of the wall disposed at the inner side of the seat and spaced so that the flange of the cartridge will snap between the same onto the seat and into contact with said retaining Wall, ribs formed integrally with said depending wall and disposed so as to engage beneath the cartridge flange at opposite sides of the cartridge for firmly holding said cartridge in engagement with its seat, said depending walls of the cartridge supporting portions having depending feet adapted to engage the end of the cylinder of the revolver when the cartridges are inserted in their respective chambers for holding the central portion of the clip spaced from the cylinder so that pressure applied to the central portion of the clip will flex said portion inwardly and cause a simultaneous tilting of the cartridge supporting portions outward- 1y away from the end of the cylinder and a release of the cartridges from the clip.

LAURENCE S. MASON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 527,166 Watson Oct. 9, 1894 1,964,171 Pflaume June 26, 1934 1,988,117 Geyer Jan. 15, 1935 2,004,525 Geyer et a1 June 11, 1935 2,142,918 Rice Jan. 3, 1939 2,488,732 Lima Nov. 22, 1949 

